title: Multi-criteria development and incorporation into decision tools for health technology adoption.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When introducing new health technologies, decision makers must integrate research evidence with local operational management information to guide decisions about whether and under what conditions the technology will be used. Multi-criteria decision analysis can support the adoption or prioritization of health interventions by using criteria to explicitly articulate the health organization's needs, limitations, and values in addition to evaluating evidence for safety and effectiveness. This paper seeks to describe the development of a framework to create agreed-upon criteria and decision tools to enhance a pre-existing local health technology assessment (HTA) decision support program.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors compiled a list of published criteria from the literature, consulted with experts to refine the criteria list, and used a modified Delphi process with a group of key stakeholders to review, modify, and validate each criterion. In a workshop setting, the criteria were used to create decision tools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A set of user-validated criteria for new health technology evaluation and adoption was developed and integrated into the local HTA decision support program. Technology evaluation and decision guideline tools were created using these criteria to ensure that the decision process is systematic, consistent, and transparent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This framework can be used by others to develop decision-making criteria and tools to enhance similar technology adoption programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of clear, user-validated criteria for evaluating new technologies adds a critical element to improve decision-making on technology adoption, and the decision tools ensure consistency, transparency, and real-world relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Surgical Services, University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada. paule.poulin@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Paule
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poulin
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Austen
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Cameron D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poulin
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lafrenière
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D003660:Decision Support Systems, Management; D003697:Delphi Technique; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*